Our Niche

Kiyohara & Takahashi LLP has developed a niche market in Franchise Restaurant operations. Currently, the firm handles close to fifty different franchisees representing Jack in the Box, Del Taco, El Pollo Loco, Applebees Bar & Grill, Papa John’s Pizza, Famous Dave’s Barbeque, Woodgrill Buffet, Burger King, Ohana Hawaiian BBQ, Wendy’s, Denny’s and ARCO AM/PM. Our involvement with these franchisees is not limited to the traditional accounting and tax services. We also provide pre-acquisition due diligence, proforma, and breakeven analysis; franchise qualification and analysis; financing procurement and loan covenant compliance; internal control procedure and accounting software consulting; and operational comparisons with industry results. Many of the referrals are from the various franchise lending institutions who come across franchisees who are not prepared or organized with sufficient financial records. We are also asked to provide expert witness testimony and valuation analysis for various franchise restaurant related litigation.

Our Team

Chris Kiyohara CPA, MST

Chris began his career in public accounting in 1984. Prior to establishing the firm, he was a partner at Kojima, Kiyohara & Company CPA’s, a Los Angeles based firm which specialized in real estate and international taxation matters. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the California State University of Los Angeles and has a Masters Degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University.

ckiyohara@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 221

Edwin Takahashi, CPA, MST

Edwin has been in public accounting since 1993. He started his career at Kojima, Kiyohara & Company CPA’s and has conversational Japanese speaking ability. He has a degree in Business Administration from the University of California Riverside and a Masters Degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University.

etakahashi@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 222

Pia Chan Eckhert, CPA, MST

Pia is a principal at Kiyohara & Takahashi and has been with us since 2000. Pia maintains a degree in Business Economics and a minor in accounting from the University of California at Los Angeles and obtained her Masters of Taxation at Golden Gate University.

pchan@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 223

Garrett Yamada, CPA, MBT

Garrett is a principal at Kiyohara & Takahashi and has been with us since 2010. He began his career at Pricewaterhousecoopers in downtown Los Angeles specializing in Tax. Garrett graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Business Administration, and Masters in Taxation from the University of Southern California in 2005. He brings with him experience in accounting and tax.

gyamada@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 242

Cathy Kwon, CPA

Cathy is a principal at Kiyohara & Takahashi and has been with us since 2010. Cathy graduated with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (emphasis in accounting and finance) from California University, Long Beach in May 2010.  Cathy is fluent in Korean.

ckwon@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 241

Iris Xiang, CPA

Iris is a principal at Kiyohara & Takahashi and has been with us since 2014.  Iris graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics and a minor in accounting. She is currently enrolled in Master of Taxation at Golden Gate University. She is fluent in Mandarin.

ixiang@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 245